SD43 Student Leadership Council

Review of agenda

Goals of the event were:

–       To help end the stigma around mental health and illness

–       Benefit the Canadian Mental Health Association

School-planned event available to community

Guest speakers and a student speaker presented at the event

Goals:

–       Mental Health Literacy

–       Increasing coping skills

–       Accessibility to help in the community

Stigma Busters:

–       Language (expand people’s vocabulary to use right and respectful language)

–       Educate Yourself (basic understanding of mental illnesses)

–       Be Kind (be available, show compassion)

–       Listen and Ask (don’t need to know answers, invite them into a conversation)

Differences between mental health, mental wellness, mental health problems, mental distress, and mental illness

Brain Health = Mental Health

“Healthy Mind Platter”

–       Focus time: when we closely focus on tasks in a goal-orientated way, taking on challenges that make deep connections in the brain

–       Play time: Allow ourselves to be spontaneous or creative, playfully enjoying novel experiences, which helps make new connections in the brain

–       Connecting: Connect with other people, ideally in person, or take time to appreciate our connection to the natural world around us, richly activating the brain’s relational circuitry

–       Physical: Move our bodies, aerobically if possible, which strengthens the brain in many ways

–       Time in: Internal reflection, focusing on sensations, images, feelings and thought, heling to better integrate the brain

–       Downtime: we are non-focused, without any specific goal, and let our mind wander or simply relax, which helps our brain recharge

–       Sleep time: give the brain the rest it needs to consolidate learning and recover from the experiences of the day

Table discussions – how large are the portions on your mental health platter?

How to bring this back to schools?

–       Event with students from all over the district – connect groups that are doing this kind of work – bring awareness

–       Followed by in-school seminars with grades or in-class stuff (e.g spoken word)

–       Timing is key!

–       Student-run would hold more appeal

–       Incorporate in to school culture (e.g Centennial musicals – art programs) – This increases engagement as well

–       Don’t necessarily tag it as “mental health” – collaborate

–       Talk about it with creative expression

–       Showcase coping strategies

Questions to think about:

What are some ways you can be a little bit kinder/decrease the stigma around mental illness/improve your own mental health/talk about this more?

How can you “ride the wave”? (Deal with mental stressors and become stronger)

Impromptu questions:

a) As the number of our Secondary School Members has decreased by half the amount of the previous meeting (leaving us with around 10 students today), what can SLC change in order to have a successful turnout?

b) How can we support you (i.e. Change in location, time, etc.)?

Presentation from Assistant Secretary Treasurer Nita Michael about the SD43 Budget process

Presentation from Co-chair Sara Parker about the SLC budget

Create a Proposal as to how one might spend money in the SLC budget and ultimately start forming ideas for next year.

Gallery walk

Voting

–          Choose the proposal you find yourself taking interest in

–          Provide feedback so the exec can mesh together your thoughts to formulate plans for next year

–          SLC retreat

–          Contact slc@sd43.bc.ca or maskew@sd43.bc.ca for details

Thank you for coming! See you on April 26!